Biography
Scottish quartet ATTICA RAGE are defiantly creating their own noise in the UK heavy music scene and beyond. Described by Alexander Milas for Kerrang! as “a perfectly blended mesh of bad-ass riffs and pure metal revelry”, they are gaining wide-spread recognition and a rapidly increasing word-of-mouth reputation amongst fans, media and industry alike for their powerful live shows and festival performances in the UK and Europe. With world-wide sales and radio airplay of debut album Ruin Nation, Attica Rage are preparing to intensify on all counts with the release of their second full-length album and extensive touring in 2010.
Having drawn early comparisons to the likes of Black Label Society, Metallica, Alice in Chains and The Almighty, Dom Lawson’s observation of Attica Rage as “thunderous students of the old school….a massive and immediate hit” in a 2009 festival review is an accurate one. Driven by the riffs, grooves, melodies and purity of their classic rock and heavy metal heritage, their anthemic Back to the Old School shouts all about it, loud and proud – “a senior class of raising hell and bleeding ears, born into madness, taught through the golden years”. However, despite a shared love of Ozzy, Maiden, Sabbath & co., ask each band member their personal influences and it’s evident that their collective inspiration comes from a wider spectrum than simply the heads-down, balls-out rock that bursts from the surface: blues & southern rock n’ roll; thrash metal; acoustic folk; gothic & industrial; punk, glam, stoner & doom as well as orchestral film scores all feed the creative and performance output of Attica Rage. Undoubtedly a hard-hitting, heavy music force by design, but expect a little diversity to rear its ugly head in the future.
Formed in 2003 in Glasgow, Scotland by Ayrshire brothers Richie Rage [drums] and Jonny Parr [vocals, guitar] with Big C [bass, vocals], Attica Rage released the four-song demo EP In Concert with the Mirror in 2005. Impressive reviews and radio airplay, including Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden’s BBC 6Music Rock Show, along with a constant gigging schedule saw the wheels start to turn for the band. After a few changes, the line-up was completed by Stephen Bell [guitar] in 2007.
October 2008 saw the long-awaited release of self-financed debut album Ruin Nation on the band’s own DIY label Vanduara Records. The 11-track LP was produced & mixed by Big C, mastered by Ace of Skunk Anansie and features artwork designed by legendary Motörhead sleeve artist Joe Petagno. The track Dark City (with a bonus cover version of Motörhead classic Overkill) was released as a digital download single in May 2009, achieving chart entries at #1 on the TuneTribe Metal Charts and #2 on the overall TuneTribe Download Charts. An accompanying promo video was directed by Rodger Griffiths. Ruin Nation was an Album of the Month in Music News Scotland (November 2008) and Metal Hammer magazine (June 2009). Radio airplay includes TotalRock, Metal Hammer and Tom Russell & Paul Anthony on Rock Radio as well as various regional FM stations and global internet radio. Despite no major retail distribution, marketing or label backing, the international sales, reviews and overall support have been very encouraging. With a promising debut entry, Attica Rage are poised and determined to take this early success much further with the follow-up album.
A growing reputation and loyal fan-base has been built with their consistently solid, tight and energetic live performances at shows across the UK and Europe. In recent years, Attica Rage have supported British heavy metal icons Saxon, Diamond Head and Blitzkrieg as well as Armored Saint (with Anthrax vocalist John Bush), Betzefer, Mark E Smith & The Fall and Voodoo Six. They have shared festival bills with Black Label Society, Down, Testament, Sepultura, Thin Lizzy, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Clutch, Opeth, Nightwish, The Wildhearts, Dimmu Borgir, Apocalyptica, Paradise Lost and Ministry amongst many others. Their European live debut found them performing at Metalcamp 2008 in Slovenia – the only unsigned UK band to play the festival that year – followed by their appearance on the Young Blood stage at Hard Rock Hell in North Wales in December 2008. A triumphant performance and record turnout opening the 2nd stage at the inaugural Hammerfest followed in April 2009. They also performed an acoustic set on the Jagermeister stage providing rare, alternative adaptations of their songs. June 2009 saw the band realise a lifelong dream when they performed on the hallowed grounds of Donington Park, England at the Download Festival Boardie BBQ party on the Red Bull stage. Attica Rage then returned to Slovenia, having been invited to open the main stage of Metalcamp 2009. The band finished the Ruin Nation Road Rage tour headlining VunkFest, a music & arts festival in Shetland. Attica Rage return to Hard Rock Hell in December 2009 alongside Monster Magnet, W.A.S.P, Queensryche, Terrorvision and more. They were also one of the first bands confirmed for Hammerfest 2 in March 2010 alongside Iced Earth, Devildriver and Skindred. 2010 will see the band touring the UK and Europe extensively in support of the new album.
With an independent drive, hard-work, determination and commitment, it’s not about fitting into the latest fleeting trends for Attica Rage: it’s all about the riffs, the songs, the live shows, the lifestyle and above all…pure unadulterated hard n’ heavy rock n roll!
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A perfectly blended mesh of bad-ass riffs and pure metal revelry
KERRANG! MAGAZINE (Alexander Milas)
This band is set to carve its way into rock history and the album is stuff of legends
With Ruin Nation as their debut release Attica Rage have made themselves their own hard act to follow 5/5
BLACK VELVET MAGAZINE
Technically flabbergasting, powerful, raw vocals and great lyrics to boot, the guys have a great future ahead of them!
ROOM THIRTEEN
Attica Rage appear from a dark corner with chaos and paranoia tattooed on their arms and demons to the fore
One of the most promising epic metal acts, destined to be in the upper reaches of the rock kingdom in days to come
MUSICIAN (Musician's Union magazine)
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Business Enquiries:
contact Jonny Parr, Vanduara Records
+44 (0)1475522837
+44 (0)7963462473
info@vanduara.com
Booking Enquiries:
contact Mike Allen, 247 Touring
mike_allen@fsmail.net
Press Enquiries:
contact Matt Hyde, Wired PR
matt@wiredpr.co.uk
Instrumentation
Jonny Parr [vocals, guitar]
Richie Rage [drums]
Big C - bass [vocals]
Stephen Bell [guitar]
Discography
DARK CITY / OVERKILL
digital single released Vanduara Records May 2009
#1 TuneTribe Metal Charts / #2 TuneTribe Download Charts
RUIN NATION
album released Vanduara Records October 2008
*Album of the Month* Music News Scotland (Nov 08) & Metal Hammer Magazine (Jun 09)
IN CONCERT WITH THE MIRROR EP
EP self-released March 2005
*Top Ten Indie Albums of the Year* - MetalNet (Canada)
~COMPILATIONS~
May 2005 - Titanium Metalfest 2005
July 2005 - Romanian Volunteer Project Benefit
Feb 2006 - Devolution Magazine 2nd Year Birthday
Mar 2006 - Metalism UK - Ragnarok Festival sampler
Oct 2006 - Mercury MCC - 60th Anniversary CD
Jan 2007 - Rock Against Cancer (Sikotick Records)
Oct 2007 - Edinburgh University Goth & Rock Society Freshers CD
Oct 2008 - Edinburgh University Goth & Rock Society Freshers CD
May 2009 - Devolution Magazine Issue 21 CD
Nov 2009 - Metal Hammer 'Razor' covermount CD
tbc 2009 - Hard Rock Hell - The Album
~RADIO AIRPLAY~
BBC6 Music : Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
Metal Hammer Radio Show
XFM Scotland
Rock Radio (Scotland)
Paul Anthony @ 106.1 Rock Radio (Manchester UK)
New World Order @ Total Rock Radio (UK)
The Autopsy Report Metal Show (UK)
Fearless Radio (Chicago USA)
YourOnLive.com/Engage Radio (New Hampshire USA)
The Darkside on Breakthru Radio (New York USA)
MetalNetRadio (Canada)
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/atticarage |
| ReverbNation - Attica Rage |
| Twitter - Follow Attica Rage |
| YouTube Attica Rage Channel |
| Facebook Group |
| BeBo Attica Rage Fanclub |